Handbells chime throughout the FC auditorium into a thunderous roar of sheet chimes and bass drums that strike through the audience’s ears as CloudBurst by Eric Whitacre, one of the choir’s state qualifier songs, shocks the crowd as sounds of storms immerse their ears. This is just one of the pieces audiences will digest during Saturday’s choir concert performance.
The choir will be performing three songs in preparation for state qualifiers. The first being CloudBurst, which uses instruments that they have never used before, then Sicut Locutus Est by Johann Sebastian Bach, and finishing off with Hela Rotan by Ken Steven. Junior chorister Brooks Roseberry is most looking forward to performing CloudBurst because of its vast difference in sounds and instruments compared to the others.
“It’s really different. Basically, the idea is that we create like a storm, so there’s a big bass drum, thunder sheet chimes, handbells, and all these different things that we don’t normally get to do in a choir song,” said Roseberry.
This was the first time the choir students had ever played instruments in a performance that was so extravagant in the use of sound and storytelling through musical conduction. The first time they had used instruments in a choir performance was during their last concert, in which they harmonized along to Africa by Roger Emerson.

“I was a little hesitant with all the instruments at first, but I think it’s really cool now. I think it really adds to what the song is describing, and I think it really pulls the audience into what we’re singing about,” said sophomore chorister Morgan Hollander.
With most of the choir students having no previous experience with playing certain instruments, choir and handbells director Angela Hampton

had to bring in a couple of mentors to show them the basics and general skills for them to tackle instrumental performance along with singing at the same time.
“Someone came in and taught the people how to use the base drum and symbols and stuff like that, and then our choir teacher, Mrs. Hampton, is the handbells teacher, so the people who were doing the handbells, she was able to explain that,” said Roseberry.
While Roseberry states that other songs “weren’t near this level” in terms of instrumental performance, students like freshman Gavvyn Lopp have different favorites they are preparing for in this concert.
“I think that all of our songs are good choices for ISSMA this year. My personal favorite has to be Good Timber. It was written perfectly. All the different voice parts blend together perfectly, and the Opus 1 Choir has done a really good job at getting this and all the other pieces memorized and perfected,” said Lopp.
The students had done a concert previously to this one, performing the song Carmina Burana with the Louisville orchestra at the Kentucky Center. It was an hour-long performance. Long performances like these are useful in preparing the choristers to perform extended songs during state qualifiers.
Choristers state qualifiers are required to undergo nerve-wracking but intense preparation to do their very best at finals, so they can make it to State. There is a lot of after-school practice involved, using this concert as preparation for the big event at the end.
“A few days ago, we had a flex rehearsal, we had night rehearsals, and as we get closer to state qualifiers, we’ll have more after-school rehearsals,” said Roseberry.
The mix of e-learning days towards the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter added minor difficulties to practices, but the choir students overcame each challenge with the help of their director.
“Everything they [Mrs. Hampton and student assistants] do is intentional. They don’t waste any time. Even on our e-learning days, everything was assigned in a way that still prepares us even when we aren’t there,” said Hollander.
While practicing for this concert is important in itself, the students will mainly be using this performance as guidance in practicing for state qualifiers. The feedback, audience, and musical experience will help them in maintaining the right state of mind going into ISSMA qualifications.
“I think performing it in front of audiences and hearing their opinions on it will definitely help us be more prepared for state quals, we’ll be more prepared to run everything and adjust to all the instruments and stuff.”